This invention relates to an educational apparatus for educating, testing and entertaining individuals of any age and more particularly to a spherical apparatus or device to enhance and/or test the dexterity of individuals
For the purposes of this specification the term “educational apparatus” includes testing apparatus and apparatus for games and the like.
It is well known that learning, especially learning of the type involved in developing manual dexterity, is enhanced when a variety of approaches are used to effect the learning. In other words, higher efficiency can be achieved when more than one of the learner's senses are involved. Similarly, learning efficiency increases when a task is accomplished in more than one way.
An educational amusement device is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,356, to James Reed. As disclosed therein, the device comprises a structure and a magnet that attracts a member of attraction. An attracted member or pointer that is attracted to the magnet is held in spaced relation to the magnet by a flexible thread that is anchored at a point spaced from the magnet. The attracted member or pointer appears to be hovering in space away from the magnet, and the usual air movements within a room etc., tend to flutter the attracted member that may be in the form of an aircraft. The attracted member is suspended in a spherical element representing a globe. The aforementioned device is used for educational purposes solely by visual simulation.
It is now believed that there is a need and a potential market for an educational apparatus which can entertain, educate and at the same time enhance the manual dexterity of an individual through a variety of visual and tactile simulations. The apparatus according to the present invention can also be used to improve and/or test an individual's manual dexterity and for teaching team work and logical thinking.
An object of the present invention is to entertain, educate and at the same time enhance the dexterity of individuals of different age groups.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can stimulate interest, attract attention of an individual and that can be used as an educational device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which stimulates interest of an individual in geography.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be used to improve logical thinking of an individual. Additional objects and advantages will become evident as the specification proceeds.
In essence, the present invention contemplates a spherical educational apparatus. The apparatus comprises, a spherical element supported by a plurality of rollers. Each of the rollers are hingedly and linearly movably attached to a support member which in turn are attached to a base. These drive rollers are used to rotate the spherical element in a plurality of directions. The base or small table defines a generally planar surface with an opening. The opening allows the spherical element to extend down below the base and to rotate freely about the base. The support frames are secured within elongated openings or slots in the planar surface. A fixed member is mounted on the spherical element and a complementary member is attached to a holder located on or near the base.
The present invention also contemplates a method for enhancing the manual dexterity of an individual. The method comprises the steps of providing a spherical element having an outer periphery wherein, the outer periphery has a fixed member attached thereto. A holder that holds a complementary member is also provided. The holder is positioned in proximity to the base, so that, an individual can move the spherical element until the fixed member located on the outer periphery of the spherical element contacts the complementary member. The individual or individuals move the spherical element by rotating one or more knobs provided on one or more drive rollers. The individual rotates the spherical element relative to the base and thereby moves the fixed member to come into contact with the complementary member.
The device according to the present invention can be used independently by an individual or by more than one individual to teach coordination and team work. Further, the device can be used by itself or it can be incorporated into a large number of games to improve and/or test the dexterity of individuals.
The invention will now be described in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention contemplates an educational apparatus which can be used for educating and entertaining individuals of any age group and, to enhance and/or test the dexterity of individuals. The apparatus can also be used to teach coordination and team work. The operation and principles of an apparatus according to the present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the drawings which illustrate several exemplary embodiments and which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
The spherical element 10 is provided with a fixed member 11 on its outer periphery. The fixed member 11 can be an elongated needle, an elongated magnetic element or any similar type of member. The circular opening 24 defined on the supporting structure 27 allows the fixed member 11 along with the spherical element 10 to extend down below the support structure 27 and to rotate freely about the support structure 27.
Each of the elongated openings or slots 16 movably secures one of the support members 13, 13′ and 15 respectively. This allows linear movement of the support members 13, 13′ and 15 along with the drive rollers 12, 12′, and 14, relative to the spherical element 10 and support structure 27. The elongated opening or slot 16 movably secures the support members 15 and 15′ along with the drive rollers 14, to be moved in an X direction on an XY grid. Two of the elongated openings or slots 16 movably secure the support members 13 and 13′ and allow linear movement of the support members 13 and 13′ along with the drive rollers 12, and 12′ in a Y direction. The drive rollers 12, 12′, and 14, can be casters, wheels or the like.
A holder 23 for a metal contact member is provided in proximity, i.e. next to but spaced from the support structure 27. However, it is also contemplated that the holder 23 may be positioned on the planar surface of the support structure 27. The holder 23 includes a base 25 and a telescopic upright member 17 having telescopic movement mounted on the base 25. A telescopic horizontal arm 18 is attached to the upright member 17 by a ball joint 26. A string 19 or the like connects one end of the horizontal arm 18 (opposite from the ball joint) and a contact or complementary member 20. The upright member 17 of the holder 23 can be adjusted to a desired height relative to the supporting structure 27 according to the shape and size of the complementary member used. Similarly, the length of the horizontal arm 18 of the holder 23 can be varied relative to the spherical element 10 depending upon the complementary member 20 used, the strength of a magnet and a desired ease of connecting the complementary member 20 and the fixed member 11.
The complementary member 20 can have various shapes and forms for different exercises and games For example, the complementary member 20 can be a small metal piece 20 as shown in
A knob 21 is provided on each of the drive rollers 12, 12′, and 14, to aid manual rotation. Rotating the knob 21, rotates the respective drive roller which in turn rotates the spherical element 10 along with the fixed member 11 in a selected direction. Rotating two drive rollers at different speeds can also be used to control the direction of the element 10 and movement of the member 11.
The use of an educational apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to
Referring now to
The spherical element 10 can also be made out of two semi spheres 99 and 100 engaging each other to represent a globe (See
The support structure 27 may also include numbers representing a substantially circular scale 102 (See
A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The first spherical element 10 is provided with a fixed member 11 on its outer periphery. The fixed member 11 can be an elongated needle or any similar type of member. The circular opening 24 defined on the first supporting structure 27 allows the fixed member 11 along with the first spherical element 10 to extend down below the first support structure 27 and to rotate freely within the first support structure 27. Similarly, the second spherical element 100 is provided with a complementary member 111 on its outer periphery. The circular opening 240 defined on the second support structure 270 allows the complementary member 111 along with the second spherical element 100 to extend below the second support structure 270 and to rotate freely within the second support structure 270.
Each of the elongated openings or slots 16 defined on the first support structure 27, movably secures one of the support members 13, 13′ and 15 respectively so as to allow a linear movement of the support members 13, 13′ and 15′ along with the drive rollers 12, 12′ and 14 relative to the first spherical element 10. The elongated opening or slot 16 movably securing the support members 15 along with the drive roller 14 in an X direction on an XY grid and the elongated opening or slot 16 movably securing the support members 13 and 13′ allow linear movement of the support members 13 and 13′ along with the drive rollers 12, and 12′ in a Y direction. Similarly, each of the elongated openings or slots 160 defined on the second support structure 270, movably secures one of the support members to allow linear movement of the support members 130 and 150 along with the drive rollers 120 and 140, relative to the second spherical element 100. The elongated opening or slot 160 movably secures the support members 150 with the drive roller 140 in a direction parallel to the X direction on an XY grid and the elongated opening or slot 16 movably secures the support members 130 to allow linear movement of the support member 130 along with the drive roller 120 in a direction parallel to the Y direction on the XY grid.
A knob 21 may be provided on each of the drive rollers to aid manual rotation. Rotating the knob 21 and 210, rotates the respective drive rollers which in turn rotate the first spherical element 10 and second spherical element 100 respectively. The rotation of the first spherical element 10 by the knob 21 moves the fixed member 11 in a desired direction. Similarly, the rotation of the second spherical element 100 by the knob 210 by a second individual moves the complementary member 111 in a pre-selected direction.
The use of an educational apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to
A plurality of elongated slots 320 are defined in the surface of the support structure 300 in proximity and on both sides of the elongated opening 360. Each of the elongated slots 320 defined on the support structure 300, movably secures one of the support members 401,402,403,404,405,406,407,408,409 and 412 respectively to allow linear movement of the support members 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409,410,411 and 412 along with the drive rollers 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 and 312 relative to the spherical element 10.
A plurality of holders 23 are provided in proximity, i.e. next to but spaced from the support structure 300. However, it is anticipated that each of the holders 23 may be positioned on the planar surface of the support structure 300.
Each of the holders comprises a base 25 (Shown in
A knob 410 is provided on each of the drive rollers 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 and 312 to aid manual rotation. Rotating the knob 410, rotates the respective drive roller which in turn rotates the spherical element 10 along with the fixed member 11 in a desired direction.
The use of an educational apparatus as illustrated in
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described it should also be recognized that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.